Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 12 of 22 categories
Pasadena
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Rochester
Minnesota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 23°F
Households earn $13,845 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Rochester
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $713k less ($268,800 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $882/mo less ($1,218 vs $2,100)
68% less violent crime than Pasadena
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $13,845/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$13,845
$97,818 vs $83,973/yr
Pasadena
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.1°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
68% lower
154.0 vs 480.4 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$713k less
$268,800 vs $981,600
Rochester
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 ✓ Higher | $83,973 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 49.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 39.9 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 15.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 12 of 22 categories. Pasadena wins 10 and Rochester wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Pasadena to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $268,800 median home), income ($97,818 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Rochester, MN are about 1,527 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.